CONNOR TAIT'S CRIMES IN DUNDEE: SEX OFFENDER'S SENTENCE REDUCED AFTER COURT APPEAL
2022: CHANGED GENDER AND REVEALS NEW ALIASES: CONNOR & CONNIE DUNCAN In July 2015, Connor Tait, a known sex offender from Dundee, experienced a significant legal development when his case was reviewed at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.The judges presiding over the appeal decided to overturn part of his previous conviction for a sexual assault that occurred in 2013, leading to a reduction in his prison sentence.
Initially, Tait, aged 22 at the time, had been found guilty of sexually assaulting a child who was walking home near Menzieshill, Dundee.
The trial at Dundee Sheriff Court last year resulted in a sentence of four years imprisonment coupled with an additional four years of supervised release following his release from prison.
However, during the appeal hearing, the judges determined that certain aspects of the conviction could not stand, specifically the aggravation related to the assault.
As a result, the original conviction was quashed and replaced with a modified one that excluded the aggravating factors, citing a lack of corroborative evidence for some parts of the attack.
Consequently, Tait’s prison term was reduced to three and a half years, although the supervision order remained unchanged.
In September 2014, Tait was sentenced to an extended eight-year term after being convicted of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy who was playing football with a friend.
The court heard that Tait, who had previously been convicted twice for sexual offences against young boys, committed this assault while he was out on bail.
The incident took place on July 4, 2013, when Tait approached the boys in a grassy area near their homes in Dundee’s Menzieshill neighborhood.
He managed to hide in a bush before jumping out and attacking the victim, grabbing and sexually touching him.
The young victim’s friend managed to escape and alerted his parents, who promptly contacted the police.
Tait was arrested within hours of the attack.
Despite the severity of his crimes, Tait’s release could have been imminent, as he had already served 14 months on remand in Barlinnie and Carstairs prisons, beginning from his arrest in July of the previous year.
Under Scottish legislation, prisoners are eligible for parole after serving half their sentence, which meant Tait could have been released as early as July 2015 if deemed suitable by the parole board.
The court also ordered Tait to be registered as a sex offender indefinitely and prohibited him from working with children or vulnerable adults.
The mother of the victim, who is now 13, expressed her disappointment with the sentence, describing Tait as “an animal.” During sentencing, Sheriff Richard Davidson, who had recently transferred from Fort William Sheriff Court, described the crime as one of the most horrific he had encountered in nearly two decades of judicial service.
The sheriff noted that psychologists had concluded Tait was not suffering from mental illness or learning difficulties, but his odd presentation was attributed to drug and alcohol abuse.
The attack occurred while Tait was on bail, targeting the young victim and his friend in a public space in Dundee.
Tait was caught after his friend managed to escape and raise the alarm.
The parents of the boys reported ongoing trauma, stating they no longer feel safe going to the park alone and have lost confidence in their safety.
In February 2014, Tait was transferred to Carstairs State Hospital following a “psychological episode” in prison.
The court heard that Tait, then 21, was found guilty of sexually abusing the 11-year-old boy in November of the previous year.
Sheriff Davidson described Tait as “disturbed” and warned that he could be sentenced in the High Court.
Medical reports indicated a deterioration in Tait’s mental health, with prison psychologists noting his distracted state and inability to focus.
The court deferred sentencing to allow further assessment, emphasizing the importance of treatment and supervision.
Tait denied the charges, claiming he was at home watching Hollyoaks at the time of the offence.
Throughout the proceedings, Tait’s behavior and mental state were scrutinized, with concerns raised about his risk to the public.
Sheriff Davidson highlighted the high risk of reoffending and stressed the need for lifelong supervision.
The court also ordered Tait’s indefinite registration as a sex offender and a treatment plan at Carstairs.
The victim’s family expressed relief that Tait faced a long-term jail sentence and lifelong monitoring, criticizing the justice system for its perceived failure to prevent his crimes despite previous convictions and monitoring.
In a separate incident in November 2013, a Dundee mother publicly criticized the justice process, claiming that Tait was granted bail and was free to move around the court building while her son and his friend were kept hidden in witness rooms.
She accused the court of treating victims and their families unfairly, with the accused being allowed to come and go freely.
The mother expressed her frustration over delays and the lack of resources, which she believed contributed to the system’s failure to deliver timely justice.
Overall, Connor Tait’s case has been marked by multiple convictions, appeals, and concerns over the adequacy of monitoring and sentencing procedures.
His crimes have left lasting scars on his victims and their families, and the ongoing legal and mental health assessments continue to shape the course of his punishment and supervision.
